By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reacted to claims made by the state’s chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which alleged that he withdrew $470 million to take himself and some chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to watch the Nigeria-Cameroon match at the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
In a statement issued by the statement government, the Governor said there was no iota of truth in the allegation, emphasising that he was among those selected by President Muhammadu Buhari to cheer up the Super Eagles at the tournament.
Those picked by the federal government to be at the football fiesta were the Senate President, Mr Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.
Others were Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and his Delta State counterpart, Mr Ifeanyi Okowa.
Also, on the list are the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele; President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Mr Habu Gumel; and a Representative of the Presidency, Captain Hosa Okunbo.
Others in the 11-man delegation were the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Olusade Adesola; the ministry’s Director of Facilities, Muhammad Gambo; and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung.
In the statement, the state government said it finds it ridiculous for the PDP to “resort to issuing press statements based on fake news on social media? Does it not stand logic on its head to allege that Governor Sanwo-Olu spent $470 million to fund a trip that he was nominated as a delegate?
“As we have always stated, we will again suggest to the Lagos state PDP and her spokesman to always fact check before putting pen on paper. Opposition politics is not built on lies and fake news.”
Dipo Olowookere